It was bound to start happening sometime, but it still surprised me when I was asked to review the website for Amberen, a supplement women can take when they start seeing the signs of menopause.  Menopause occurs because the brain loses it’s sensitivity to signals for hormone production sent from the body. The ovaries aren’t getting those signals, so hormone production slows down, and that’s menopause.

I’m 45, which means I’m likely in the beginning stages of hormone imbalance, called perimenopause. It could be anywhere from 10 to 15 years before my periods stop completely, and during those years, I get to experience the symptoms of it, which most commonly include hot flashes, irregular periods, heavy bleeding, sleep disruption, headaches, weight gain, loss of libido and emotional distress.

Not yet, not yet, yes, yes, yes, no, sometimes, and YES.  And also, yikes.

Amberen contains an anti-oxidant, calcium, two amino acids, magnesium, zinc, and vitamin E. I’m simplifying the actual names of the ingredients, but if you’re interested, I recommend reading this page – www.amberen.com/ingredients/.  I’ve read through all the FAQs as well as looked at the clinical trial information, because if this could actually work, I want to ask my doctor about taking it before my symptoms get any worse!

What it boils down to is that Amberen works on the part of the brain that controls hormones, the hypothalmus.  It took decades for Amberen to be ready for the market! In 1971,  researchers reversed menopause in aging rats by restoring their hypothalmic function with what became the prototype for Amberen.  In 2006, they did randomized, double blind, placebo controlled, cross over clinical trials on humans,  and found that “Amberen-based monotherapy significantly lowered most characteristics of menopausal symptoms, including hot flushes, headaches, and anxiety. No adverse side effects registered.”

Amberen is produced by Lunada Biomedical, a Better Business Bureau -registered accredited business.

The best part is, you don’t even have to take Amberen every day for ever.  You take two capsules a day for 90 days, and that gives you up to another 90 days of relief! This is NOT one of those programs where you get signed up and have product delivered every month whether you need it or not. In fact,  recurring automatic billing is against Amberen’s policy. They know that only YOU (and your doctor)  can decide when you need your next course of Amberen. Most women require only two courses a year.

I know this sounds like a commercial, but please talk to your doctor before buying Amberen, because it could interfere with other medications you take. I know I’m going to ask mine, because not being able to sleep is hard on me and my family, and I’d prefer to have the symptoms of peri- or actual menopause be as mild as possible. So glad I got this opportunity to learn about Amberen!

p.s. I was compensated for writing this post. Everything else is all me.